How Amblyopia Affects How Children See Shapes
Official title: Shape Distortions seen by Amblyopic Children: Pereceptograms and Neural Models
Funded at State College of Optometry · NIH-11089384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how children with amblyopia, also known as 'lazy eye,' might see shapes differently, which could affect their reading.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State College of Optometry NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $204,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R21EY035838-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11089384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for children and adults with amblyopia, particularly those who experience visual distortions or difficulties with reading.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without amblyopia or those whose visual difficulties are not related to shape perception may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Children with amblyopia often read slower, and while we know about some eye movement issues, how they perceive shapes hasn't been fully understood. This work looks into the unusual shape distortions that many adults with amblyopia describe, even for large letters. Researchers believe these distortions might be due to how the brain's visual processing centers develop when there are early differences in vision between the eyes. By understanding these visual differences, we hope to learn more about why amblyopic children struggle with reading.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to understand and potentially help children with amblyopia improve their shape recognition and reading abilities.
How similar studies have gone: While previous work has identified eye movement issues in amblyopia, the specific focus on shape misperceptions and their neural basis is a novel area of exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
State College of Optometry
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zaidi, Qasim — State College of Optometry
- Study coordinator: Zaidi, Qasim
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.